October 27, 2011

Authorities say a threatening note left in a Catawba County middle school bathroom Thursday morning posed no real danger to students and staff.

The student who created the note confessed Thursday afternoon and has been suspended for 10 days.

Administrators locked down Jacobs Fork Middle School and the adjacent Fred T. Foard High School in Newton for nearly four hours after a Jacobs Fork student reported the note between 9 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

October 26th

October 26, 2011

The Hickory soccer team capped what was amazing regular season on Wednesday during âSenior Night,â winning 1-0 against Fred T. Foard.

It was the 16th straight win for the Red Tornadoes, who finish their conference schedule undefeated at 12-0.

âThey just continue to work hard and are receptive to what we are trying to do and accomplish,â said Hickory coach Brian Jillings of his team. âWhen you keep working hard like, good things are going to happen. We have a good combination of defenders, hard-working midfielders and guys who work magic with the ball.â

October 26, 2011

Apple is clearing land in Maiden for a project it calls âSolar panel farm A.â

The company is burning and cutting down about 108 acres of land across the street from its data center, which opened earlier this year at 5977 Startown Road.

On Wednesday, after complaints from residents about smoke, Apple asked contractors at the site to chip wood rather than burn it, according to a statement from the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources Division of Air Quality.

October 26, 2011

Newtonâs ghouls and goblins will flock to the 1924 Courthouse square this weekend for an event that is sure to be "Spooktacular."

Area groups will host the fourth annual Spooktacular event in downtown Newton on Saturday for children, parents and families looking to have a fun and safe Halloween.

This yearâs activities will revolve around Newtonâs downtown square from 5-8 p.m. Saturday. In addition to games, prizes and trick-or-treating, this yearâs Spooktacular will feature a costume contest.

October 26, 2011

Catawba County Schools Superintendent Glenn Barger says he's not happy with the 2012-13 school calendar approved by the system's board of education this week.

"It's a terrible calendar," Barger said. "We're boxed in by the state."

In June, the N.C. General Assembly approved the addition of five days to the school year. For the 2011-12 school year, the state Department of Public Instruction granted waivers to all 115 school systems to use the extra days for teacher training. Students will still attend classes 180 days this year.

October 25th

October 25, 2011

Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench was the special guest speaker for the Hickory Sportsmanâs Club bi-annual meeting on Tuesday at Rock Barn Golf and Spa.

Bench was a member of the âBig Red Machineâ clubs that played in Cincinnati from 1970-1976. Those teams, which included Bench, Pete Rose, Joe Morgan, Tony Perez, Ken Griffey Sr., Dave Concepcion and manager George âSparkyâ Anderson, won two World Series championships and 683 games during the six-year period.